What are the best Gymnastics Medals?

Why Custom Gymnastics Medals Matter?

Find out what are the best Gymnastics Medals, and why they are important:

In gymnastics, the difference between a standard medal and a bespoke one can mean far more than aesthetics. Custom gymnastics medals:

• Celebrate athlete identity: They can reflect the event’s branding, sport motifs (bars, rings, floor), or club colours, making the award feel unique.

• Raise motivation and pride: When gymnasts see their name or club logo engraved, it enhances emotional value and encourages future participation.

• Provide sentimental keepsakes: Bespoke medals are often displayed, kept as mementos, or shared on social media.

• Enhance the event’s prestige: A high-quality custom medal suggests that the event is well-organised and thoughtfully curated.

• Support brand recognition: The event organiser, sponsor logos, or branding can stay visible long after the competition, via medal display or wear.

Because gymnastics involves different apparatuses (vault, beam, bar, floor, all-around), custom medals also allow you to tailor awards per discipline or create tiered designs (e.g. “beam champion,” “all-around silver”).

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Types & Styles of Custom Gymnastics Medals

When ordering or designing custom gymnastics medals, there are several options and styles to choose from. Below are common types, each with its pros and considerations.

1. Die-Cast / Metal Medals with Enamel or Color Fill

These are among the most popular. The medal is metal (zinc alloy, brass, or similar) cast with your shape and design, then filled with colour enamel (or left as metal relief):

• Pros: durable, sharp detail, full colour options, high perceived value.

• Cons: higher cost, lead times, heavier weight.

• MaxMedals notes their custom die-cast gymnastics medals can be made with enamel, glitter, cut-outs, and advanced details.

2. Metal Engraved Medals

Instead of colour fill, designs are engraved into the medal’s face (etched or laser engraved) and may remain metallic:

• Pros: classic look, lower cost than full enamel, elegant finish.

• Cons: less vibrant for large colour elements, texture constraints.

3. Acrylic / Resin Medals

These use clear or coloured acrylic, sometimes layered, with printed or embedded gymnastic motifs:

• Pros: lighter, modern look, easier to produce complex shapes quickly.

• Cons: less prestige, may scratch more easily, limited depth.

4. Wooden / Eco / Laser-Cut Medals

For clubs or events that emphasise sustainability or want a unique aesthetic, wood or engraved wood medals are an option. While less common, they carry charm and an eco sensibility:

• Pros: lightweight, natural look, good for smaller runs or eco-branded events.

• Cons: less durability for heavy wear, lower detail in fine relief, may require protective coatings.

5. Hybrid Medals & Multi-Material Designs

These combine materials — e.g. metal + acrylic windows, metal + wood inlays, or layered designs to add depth. They allow more creative freedom but may cost more.

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Key Design & Specification Tips

To ensure your custom gymnastics medals look great, last well, and reflect professionalism, consider these tips:

A. Artwork & File Requirements

• Prepare vector artwork (SVG, AI, EPS) with clear outlines and layers (engraving vs cut vs fill).

• Convert text to outlines so that no font issues arise.

• Avoid extremely thin lines or tiny text — in production, these may blur or not engrave clearly.

B. Size, Shape & Thickness

• Typical diameters or widths fall between ~ 50 mm and ~ 80 mm depending on scale.

• Thickness often ranges from 2.5 mm to 5 mm; thicker gives substance but adds weight.

• If you use cut-outs (negative space holes) for design or lightness, ensure structural integrity (no fragile bridges).

• Avoid areas too close to the edge, especially where the ribbon attaches.

C. Finish, Plating & Coating

• Medal surfaces can be polished, matte, or antique finishes (gold, silver, bronze tones).

• Protective clear coatings or lacquers can help resist scratching or tarnishing.

• For enamel medals, the finish should protect the enamel and metal borders.

D. Ribbons & Neck Bands

• Select ribbon width (e.g. 15 mm, 20 mm) and material (satin, grosgrain, polyester).

• Many medals allow custom-printed ribbons (club name, event name, sponsor).

• Ensure the ribbon attachment point is strong and well-designed (e.g. metal ring, recessed loop).

E. Personalisation & Variable Data

• You may want to individualize medals with athlete names or scores.

• Ask the supplier if they can program variable engraving per medal in one batch.

• Be aware that individualized engraving increases production time and per-unit cost.

F. Backside Engraving or Detail

• Many events engrave the date, location, or event title on the reverse side.

• You can also leave space for sponsors or a small emblem.

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Tips for Choosing a Supplier

When selecting a supplier for your custom gymnastics medals, here are practical criteria and questions you should ask:

1. Portfolio & Experience
   Look for past gymnastics or sports-medal work (images, testimonials). This shows they understand sport motifs and production challenges.

2. Minimum Order Quantities (MOQ) & Flexibility
   Can they handle your event size? Do they require high minimums? Are small test runs possible?

3. Lead Times & Prototyping
   Ask how long the sample and full production will take. Ensure there’s time for approvals, revisions, and shipping.

4. Engraving / Personalization Capabilities
   Confirm whether they can do variable data (names, scores) per medal, and how much extra that costs.

5. Quality Assurance & Rejects / Remakes
   How do they guarantee medal quality? What’s their policy on flaws or damaged units?

6. Shipping, Packaging & Handling
   Good packaging is essential so medals arrive undamaged. Also factor in shipping cost, especially for international orders.

7. Cost Breakdown
   Ask for breakdowns: base metal + plating, enamel work, engraving / variable data, ribbons, finishing, artwork setup fees.

8. Aftercare / Warranty
   Some suppliers offer replacement for tarnished plating or defects over a period.

One specialist supplier for gymnastics medals (among other sports) is Bespoke Sports Medals — you can explore their selection and offerings here:
Bespoke Sports Medals – bespoke gymnastic medals

They are designed to handle custom shapes, finishes, personalization, and high-quality medal production catering specifically to gymnastics events.

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Sample Workflow: From Design to Delivery

Here’s a typical step-by-step workflow when ordering custom gymnastics medals:

1. Concept & Briefing
   Define your event theme, colours, logo, shapes (e.g. silhouette of a gymnast on pommel horse), ribbon style, personalization needs.

2. Supplier Selection & Initial Quote
   Send your brief and logo files to several suppliers (including Bespoke Sports Medals) for quotes. Ask for sample images or mockups.

3. Mockup / Proofs
   The supplier sends digital or physical proofs of medal front and back (rendered view). You review and approve or request changes.

4. Prototype / Pre-Production Sample
   Some suppliers produce a physical one or few sample medals so you can inspect engraving, colour, finish, weight.

5. Full Production
   Once sample is approved, full batch production begins. Supplier monitors quality, rejects flawed units, and packages finished medals.

6. Delivery & Inspection
   On arrival, inspect randomly across the batch — check engraving clarity, plating, ribbon attachments, damage. Document any issues.

7. Distribution
   At the event awards ceremony, hand out medals to winners, participants, or display. Optionally, provide display cases or presentation boxes.

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Best Practices & Tips for Gymnastics Events

• Align medal design with apparatus: Use gymnastic shapes (bars, beam, rings) as part of the cut-out or relief for visual resonance.

• Tiered design approach: Use the same basic medal for 1st, 2nd, 3rd, but vary plating/enamel (gold, silver, bronze) for consistency and fairness.

• Include event branding: Logo, year, location, and sponsor insignia help the medal serve as a lasting memento.

• Balance weight and comfort: Heavy medals may feel premium but can be uncomfortable around the neck — don’t overdo thickness.

• Quality ribbon choice: A premium ribbon amplifies the medal’s impact. Poor ribbons (thin, weak) undermine the whole.

• Protect the finish: In humid gym halls, a protective coating helps prevent tarnishing or scratches.

• Plan an award reveal or presentation: Display medals before awarding, let athletes see them, create a moment of pride.

• Photograph the medals: Before distributing, take clean product photos for social media and future marketing.

• Order extras: Always order ~5–10% extra to cover unexpected needs, replacements, mistakes.

• Get athlete feedback: After the event, ask for impressions — design, comfort, aesthetics — to refine next year’s medals.

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Conclusion

Custom gymnastics medals are more than just awards — they are tangible symbols of achievement, housed with identity and emotion. By choosing the right style (metal, enamel, wood, hybrid), designing thoughtfully, selecting a capable supplier, and managing production carefully, your event can deliver medals that athletes will treasure.

If you’re organising a gymnastics meet — competitive or club level — it’s worth exploring specialized suppliers such as Bespoke Sports Medals to see their design options, finishes, and customization flexibility:
https://www.bespokesportsmedals.com/bespoke-gymnastic-medals/